Naldehra - The Hidden Treasure of Himachal

I visited the beautiful town of Naldehra in December last year with a group of friends and let me tell you it is no less than a picture perfect destination.

It is situated 22 kms from Shimla, tucked away in it's own world.

Naldehra is also home to the oldest golf course in India. This is an unusual course, perched at a height of 2044 metres, strewn with boulders, trees, and little hillocks.

Must Read: kangra fort, chicham bridge

We were there for a peaceful weekend getaway away from the city and the hustle of our daily routine.In turn, Naldehra turned out to be exactly that and much more .

We explored a new place , soaked in the beauty of nature, woke up and slept without having to care, snowballed each other, River Rafted in Satluj and created memories for a lifetime.

For most of us, this was our first trip to the mountains, when we arrived we were a group of shutter happy tourists clicking photos at every instance of snow or a beautiful view, but when we returned we were much more - We were Travellers.

We started our Journey from Noida at around 10.00 in the night and we were full of energy and excitement looking forward to the much awaited trip ahead of us. We had hired a 14-seater tempo traveller as we were advised to go by our own vehicle, as transportation to local and nearby places in hilly areas can burn a hole in your pocket.

We also stopped by at Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba to grab a late night bite and to get a few pictures clicked.

Situated about 25 kms from Naldehra and 50 kms from Shimla, Tattapani is an ideal spot for rafting newbies and enthusiasts alike. National Level rafting Competitions are held here and chances are your instructor would have contested here ! (Our Instructor was the winner of Last Year's Competition!) .

The River Satluj is the perfect place for rafting offering different stretches varying from 5 km to 24 km, Offering Grade 3-4 rapids.The best option to go for 12 km which is a 2-3 hour experience - You have to use the paddles to control the Raft when you hit the rapids, which is difficult and exhilarating!!

Most people visit Shimla for a Touristy experience, If you want to be one of the few who travel to explore - Visit Naldehra, Kufri, Fagu, Tattapani and make sure you have great company too ..!!

Many people are not aware that river rafting is possible near Naldehra. Tattapani is famous for it's Hot Sulphur Springs but it also doubles up as a River Rafting destination . You will best experience it if you go in a Group , and enjoy the ride in the rapids of the water and the view of the gorgeous mountains around you . It is an experience on another level, Do Not miss this at any cost. This is one Ride, I promise you will never forget. So, when you are back at work, you will recreate the feeling and the adrenaline rush you got from this experience. It Costs around Rs. 750 per head-6 people in each raft. P.S. - Hire two Rafts , and race against each other if you are in a group , it's too much fun.

On the day you have to return make it a point to visit Kufri. It is located on the way back to Shimla and it is your best chance of seeing full fledged snow . When you reach in the main town, you will have to hire a horse to take upto the top and back , it costs around Rs. 700 per head for the whole trip. You can visit the local market , get photos clicked with yaks , ride ATV's , play with the snow and settle in the beauty of the mountains. It's a great Experience. You could also visit Mall Road and the Church in shimla on the way back.